Theory of Government in Ancient India (Post-Vedic) c6.s1.1

c6.s1.1

The Rāmāyaṇa of Vālmīki ranks with the Mahābhārata as one of the two great epics of India. The story of Rāma, surcharged with pathos and tender affection, and culminating in his struggle with Rāvaṇa, the king of demons in Laṅkā or Ceylon, has enjoyed even greater vogue than the tragedy of the great Civil War. But the Rāmāyaṇa contains singularly few ideas on government. It is valuable for Hindu social and ethical theory but to the student of politics it yields little. In his first book, the poet draws a character sketch of Daśaratha, king of Ayodhyā, and paints the condition of his realm, obviously as ideals to be admired and followed.